Julius Caesar Vs. Chocolate Wa Essay

1409 words - 6 pages

Leaders Among Us The death of a tyrannical emperor and the refusal of a teenager to sell chocolates are two very different story lines. Yet the leaders in both stories use the same techniques and act similarly. The followers also are also depicted in similar manners in the ways they respond to being led. The leaders also used the same methods in gaining and maintaining their power through manipulation and fear. In these two pieces of literature, The Chocolate War ,and Julius Caesar, the leaders and the followers are portrayed very much alike. A leader is someone who is the head of a group. To be effective leaders the must have certain qualities; one of these qualities is a good public speaker. Marc Antony is an excellent public speaker and is always able to convince his listeners of his point. The people say after listening to his speech "Methinks there is much reason in his sayings" (Shakespeare III, ii, 118). By being able to convince the general public of what he is saying and his point, he is effectively leading them. Another good trait of a leader is a quick thinker; Antony is good at this also. He uses his swift thinking to more easily convince the populace of Rome. When speaking at Caesar's funeral, he thinks to bring up the will of Caesar by saying "But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar. / I found it in his closet. 'Tis his will"(III, ii, 140-141). Antony could not have possibly been to Caesar's home to get the will before his speech, but he briskly thinks of another way to convince the plebeians. One more necessity to being a good leader is having underlings to help you. Antony has one person that he treats as an underling but who is his political equal. This is Lepidus, who rules in the second Triumvirate with Antony and Octavius. Antony sees Lepidus as "a slight unmeritable man, / meet to be sent on errands" (IV, i, 14-15). Having an underling makes the leader feel more powerful. In The Chocolate War Archie is the leader of the Vigils. He displays qualities similar to those of Antony in the way that he is a very good public speaker. He always uses psychological means rather then fists. He convinces Emile Janza that "…guys like Renault are your enemies, not guys like me…Then Archie had provided the door-slammer…" which further convinces Janza (Cormier 173). Archie's power is in the way he can speak and convince people. Archie is also a quick thinker like Antony is. Archie surprised even those who knew him well with his ability to think on his feet. "Obie marveled at the way Archie ran the meetings and how The Vigils quickly took his cues" (123). He speaks with grace and is able to think rapidly on his feet. An underling is very important to Archie's success also. His accomplice Obie is always "picking up the pieces behind him, of performing those little services…"(101). Obie does all the dirty work that Archie doesn't want to or doesn't have to do. The leaders of a private school in the...

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